You are here

Lori Phelan

The newest member of the SFMTA Board of Directors is former State Senator Art Torres, who was sworn in and joined his first board meeting today. Torres was appointed by Mayor Ed Lee and confirmed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to fill a vacancy on the board left by former Chairman Tom Nolan, who retired last month.

With a career in civic engagement spanning more than four decades, including 20 years as a state legislator, Torres has been a leader in the public, private and nonprofit sectors working to tackle complex policy issues and stand up for those without a voice. He led bipartisan initiatives to improve health care, education, the environment and human rights.

A hybrid electric Muni bus on Mansell Streetin McLaren Park, which was recently redesigned with a beautiful path for walking and biking.

Earth Day was started in 1970 to foster forward-thinking initiatives that would benefit the environment and the planet. At the SFMTA, we continue to meet that call to action with more achievements each year.

As Mayor Ed Lee announced this week, San Francisco reduced its greenhouse gas emissions to 28 percent below the 1990 levels in 2015, two years ahead of our goal to do so by 2017. Greenhouse gas emissions come from electricity, natural gas, fuel, waste and transportation, which is one of the largest contributors in the city, at about 46 percent (mostly from cars and trucks).

At the SFMTA, where we oversee Muni and all of San Francisco’s surface transportation, Earth Day’s message of sustainability is embedded in nearly every aspect of what we do every day.

So mark this Sunday, March 12 on your calendar, because that's when the first event of 2017 kicks off on Valencia Street in the Mission, between Duboce Avenue and 26th Street, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Sunday Streets is an annual series of events in the city that turn large sections of streets in the heart of neighborhoods throughout San Francisco into car-free spaces for celebration. Tens of thousands of people come out to bicycle, enjoy musical entertainment, learn about SF neighborhoods and explore the area in a way you can't do during a typical day with traffic on the streets. The celebrations are held each month from March through October.

For the 10th year, the SFMTA will participate as the primary city sponsor of Sunday Streets, an event organized by the nonprofit Livable City in partnership with agencies including the Department of Public Health and the Office and Economic and Workforce Development.

Chairman Brinkman pedals in front of City Hall during Bike to Work Day last spring. Photo taken May 12, 2016.

As the new chairman of the SFMTA Board of Directors, Cheryl Brinkman is happy to use the skills she’s learned through a lifetime of transportation advocacy to help form the city's transportation agenda.

Like most San Franciscans, Chairman Brinkman gets around in a variety of ways, including walking, biking, Muni, taxis as well as bike-share and car-share services. Her enthusiasm for all of these choices make her a great leader for the agency.

"My vision for the SFMTA is that we continue to make transportation improvements in a thoughtful, transparent and informed way," she said. "I hope that our streets continue to become safer and more welcoming for all ages and we continue to increase trips with sustainable modes of transportation."

To people who feel underprivileged and out of sync: rising to the top can happen to those who persevere and compete. - Curtis E. Green

Those were the encouraging words of Curtis Green in 1982, when he retired from the San Francisco Municipal Railway as the first black general manager of a major transit system in the nation.

Green's career at Muni spanned 37 years, from 1945 to 1982, during which he helped shape the system we know today. He was known to be well liked by everyone, including personal friend Supervisor Harvey Milk.

The SFMTA is partnering with NorcalMLK to provide free MLK2017 Commemorative Muni Passes to enable San Franciscans to attend the celebration at Yerba Buena Gardens. We will also provide complimentary shuttle service during the annual march.

Last week, the regional Metropolitan Transportation Commission awarded 26-year-old Muni Operator Jose Macasocol the David Tannehill Special Employee Award for going that extra mile, every day, on the job. Also known as “Mr. Joseph” to many of his customers, Macasocol has been the smiling face behind the wheel of a Muni bus for nearly two years, serving the residents of San Francisco on many bus routes as a floating extra.

Celebrating transit riders and the folks who get them from point A to point B at the Presidio Division. From left, Juan Coleman, Francisca Tapia, Shanel Dillard, Thea Selby, Kenny Castaneda, James McMillian Jr., Michael Green, and Bayani Miranda.

Get #OnBoardSF this week as we join with the San Francisco Transit Riders to celebrate all things Muni — our customers, our city and the men and women who keep them moving.

Festivities kicked off yesterday with a press conference at City Hall and goodies for Muni riders on the 38 Geary this morning.

Nearly 42,000 traffic citations were issued last year by the San Francisco Police Department for the top five traffic violation categories, and a quarter of them alone were for speeding.

Unsafe speed is also a leading cause of traffic deaths in the city. That’s why the city just launched a new round of radio ads focused on reducing speeding as the city pursues its Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths by 2024.

Passengers enjoying a ride along The Embarcadero during last year’s Muni Heritage Weekend.

The clang, clang, clickety-clack sounds of the past will come alive later this month for Muni Heritage Weekend, when additional vintage “green machines” will once again take to the streets of San Francisco to transport Muni history enthusiasts through time.

The 5th annual Muni Heritage Weekend is held by the SFMTA and the Market Street Railway, our non-profit partner that supports the preservation of Muni’s historic vehicle fleet. Festivities run Saturday, Sept. 24 and Sunday, Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Historic buses, cable cars and streetcars rarely in operation will return to serve the public for a weekend – some of them for free.

And with this year marking the 75th anniversary of Muni’s first trolley bus line, vintage buses will serve double duty as pop-up galleries featuring historic photographs from our archives.

The center of activity will be at the San Francisco Railway Museum and Gift Shop at 77 Steuart Street, which is operated by Market Street Railway. Guests will have the opportunity to take advantage of special sales of transit books and memorabilia. Proceeds will help fund the Market Street Railway’s historic vehicle preservation efforts.